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Financing / Crowdfunding

From all facets of a traditional raise to soft money to crowdfunding strategies, this is the place to discuss, share content and offer tips and advice regarding raising funds for a project.

TV Comedy EB
Ron Jackson
Slated

Has anyone used Slated to submit their film?

L. Tom Deaver

They ask 5% fee of monies raised for production. Or did anyway. I have had script reviews from them on one of my scripts and while I found the notes usefu their metrics were less useful to me as a Producer and I have had better fortune connecting here on Stage 32 and networking via Facebook.

Ron Jackson

Thank you

Amanda Toney

We know the guys over at Slated and they definitely work hard to try to make connections. It's an interesting platform that started around 12-13 years ago when we started Stage 32.

Ashley Renee Smith
How Iñárritu Shoots A Film At 3 Budget Levels

In Depth Cine recently put out this interesting video dissecting how acclaimed filmmaker, Alejandro Iñárritu directed three of his most well-known films at three different budget levels. His first low-budget feature Amores Perros, the mid-budget film Birdman, and the blockbuster-level feature The Re...

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Maurice Vaughan

Incredible share, Ashley Renee Smith! Alejandro Iñárritu's movies look phenomenal no matter what the budget is. The video mentions a technique of combining and disguising cuts (from individual takes)...

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Emma Louise Smith

Ashley! you superstar, what a great share.

Ashley Renee Smith

I agree, Maurice Vaughan! There are a lot of production techniques that seem cumbersome, but in application can actually make things a bit easier to approach at various levels....

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Ashley Renee Smith

Emma Louise Smith, YOU are! =)

Amanda Toney

This is fascinating, awesome share Ashley Renee Smith!

Cynthia Soroka
Looking for funding ideas

Besides crowd funding anyone have any ideas on how to fund a film? Thanks!

Pat Alexander

There are always filmmaking grants out there too for filmmakers that you may qualify for, based on specific things. I know Film Independent, Studio Binder, Filmmakers Without Borders all have pages wh...

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Sean T. Clark

Unpaid endorsement: Seed & Spark has been a success for us!

Cynthia Soroka

Thanks all!

Dori Zavala, JD

Hi Cynthia, There are lots of different options depending on your goals, type of project, and whether you want to give up equity in your project. There is both equity and charitable-based crowdfunding...

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Howard Koor

Lots of great ideas here. @Karen "Kay" Ross I agree with you. Virtually nobody gets a check for 50+ million to make their first movie, no matter how good the script is. There might be someone who did...

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Sydney Summers
Upcoming Financing Class: Breaking down US and International Tax Incentives + Case Studies!

Stage 32 is excited for this upcoming 4-part class!

This class will explore the advantages of utilizing film tax credits, both domestically and internationally, as a viable source of financing towards the budget of a film. In exploring how producers should correctly go about accessing production tax...

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Jack Binder

This is a great way to dive into the world of soft money film finance. Understanding and utilizing film tax credits is a critical element in production plans, and financing.

Sydney Summers

I couldn't agree more Jack! Have a nice day !

Sam Sokolow

Almost every decision studios make on where to shoot is influenced by tax incentives and it's imperative for indie filmmakers to get the most out of their opportunity. What an awesome class. Thanks, S...

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L. Tom Deaver

I learned this is a trial by fire. Definitely oh my list of classes to take.

Sydney Summers

Hi, Tom! I hope to have in the class, please let me know if you have any questions.

Debbie Croysdale
Is this the right place to discuss built in fan bases?

I’ve an Irish Rom Com & will be doing a proof of concept with scenes in various places in UK & Spain that have a direct link to the Irish community/sports. Others have done similar in other genres EG National boxing ring circuits for fight film. (Successful publicity campaigns.) Generating interest...

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Jack Binder

Thanks for asking Debbie. A fan base can be a very helpful element in driving interest, finance, audience, and hence revenues. Definitely a good subject for filmmakers to consider and take advantage of.

Emma Louise Smith

Theres some good advice from Jack Binder here in my opinion Debbie! Especially if you think there's a big fanbase from the sport out there, may be good to consider harnessing this and crowdfunding. If...

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Debbie Croysdale

@Emma Thanks for the new insight.

Amanda Toney

Hi Debbie! Our founder and CEO literally wrote the book on this and it’s a #1 best seller on Amazon. I’d highly recommend this as a resource: https://www.amazon.com/Crowdsourcing-Filmmakers-American-M...

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Debbie Croysdale

@Amanda Thanks for the info. I’m on the move at present but when back at desktop will certainly download RB’s book.

Sydney Summers
Upcoming Finance Lab: Crafting a Financial Investor Prospectus for Your $2-$5MM Feature Film

In this exclusive Stage 32 lab, you'll delve into the art of creating a professional investment prospectus. Led by seasoned finance professional Emma Louise Smith, who has seamlessly merged private equity management with film production, this lab promises to demystify the financial intricacies of fi...

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Cyreita Drummond

I would be interested as well

Sam Sokolow

With the proliferation of indie filmmaking and the need to fill the streaming bandwidth as they consolidate at the corporate level this is an invaluable course. Can't wait to check it out. Thanks for...

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Aquelah Davis

I’m very much looking forward to this excellent class!

Sydney Summers

I love the enthusiasm!

Sydney Summers

Pat, I am here to help answer any questions you may have. Email me directly at edu@stage32.com

Suzanne Bronson
March S32 Phoenix In Person Meetup

https://www.stage32.com/meetups/1963/March-Stage-32-Phoenix-In-Person-Me...

Maurice Vaughan

Hope everyone has a great time, Suzanne Bronson!

Amanda Toney

Love this! What are all of you working on?

Tennyson Stead
Chinese Finance Brokers

Dear Stage 32,

Does anyone have access to any brokers they can recommend when it comes to Chinese film finance capital?

Folks on this site know me as a writer of more than 50 screenplays (some of which have placed in competition here on the site), as a film finance exec with about 10 years of hands-on...

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Sam Sokolow

Hi Tennyson Stead - I don't personally know any but commenting to amplify your post to my network. Wishing you luck in your endeavors.

Tennyson Stead

That's very much appreciated, Sam Sokolow! Thank you!

Amanda Toney

Hey tennyson! This webinar on the China market might be helpful for you: https://www.stage32.com/education?p=8944846111027

Lissa Coffey
Thanks, Jeanette!

Great webinar, Jeanette! Is there a resource or website where I can find sales agents? Cinando had very few. And most of the ones they listed were overseas.

Amanda Toney

Hi Alissa! I know your looking for a list, but I also want to recommend this sales agent webinar. It gives invaluable advice and templates about the process: https://www.stage32.com/education?p=894494...

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Jack Vincent
The all-important email

Great webinar, Jeanette. Gruezi von der Schweiz.

You briefly mentioned the all-important email. I'm a believer in simplicity sells, less is more... and I often lead with the logline.

What key elements would you include in the email? Any particular order?

Jack Binder

Great question Jack Vincent - Yes, this would be very helpful to hear more about.

Emma Louise Smith

I agree with you and it's a great question Jack. I believe in less is more too, you can share more info and I think too much up front can be overload and may not be read. Off the top of my head I'd wa...

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Maurice Vaughan
Where's the Logline?

I've seen some crowdfunding campaigns that don't have loglines. I've had to search through paragraphs of text and watch videos to find out what the projects were about, and sometimes I gave up because it took so long. I'm guessing other people have done the same thing, which means the filmmakers and...

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Ashley Renee Smith

Absolutely, Maurice Vaughan!

Jack Binder

No question! This is fundamental, fantastic advice Maurice Vaughan. The logline should pop as the first thing someone sees.

Maurice Vaughan

Thanks, Jack Binder.

Emma Louise Smith

Great feedback Maurice - time is money ;) Get. Your. Point. Across. Such a shame to lose the interest of someone who could be great for your project because they couldn't find the info to help them understand what you are doing and looking for.

Maurice Vaughan

Thanks, Emma Louise Smith. Exactly. And if a filmmaker or creative doesn't know how to write a logline, Christopher Lockhart has a great webinar on loglines. It’s called “How To Make Your Logline Attr...

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Cyreita Drummond
Producer

I want to find my first film and didn’t want to bypass advise as to steps in securing funding for a project I want to produce within my family of actors and filmmakers

Sam Sokolow

Hi Cyreita Drummond - I recommend this Stage 32 webinar on raising that always tough first money into your project: https://www.stage32.com/education?p=8948157284659...

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Jack Binder

Great tip @samsokolow

Cyreita Drummond

thank you Sam Sokolow

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